Winter Buds on the Flower Farm

Although it is winter in Vermont, I managed to force flowering on some fresh product from our farm to bring to market. This week I am forcing forsythia, pussy willow and fantail willow branches.

Fantail willow is one of my favorites with its flattened, distorted stems and elongated wild buds. They look like something out of a Tim Burton movie.

When forcing: I cut the stems on the warmest day possible and bring them indoors. I pre-treat all my woody ornamentals in special ways so they will produce buds or blooms. This way a forced bloom will last for several weeks in your home. The willows just keep growing producing green shoots after the catkins fall off.

Sales require product at the Farmer’s Market, even in winter! So forcing is integral to having product for market over the next two months. At the Painted Tulip I bring you the brightness of spring when you need it most…in the darkness of winter.